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I’m not Bragg’n but you’ll dig Hagg’n

3/20/09

That’s right if your a snagger/ballhawk/batting practice guy/gal your starting to squirm. It’s getting close now and I crave the warm weather and green grass.

CHECK THIS OUT:

Erik over at Counting Baseballs has proposed a BallHawking competition and myself and a bunch of other people are “In it to win it” ..I’m kidding, we’re going to have some fun with this.

It’s still in discussion exactly how we’re going to keep track/score.

Below is my proposal for keeping score and if it they don’t want to use it that’s ok. I’d like to participate however they decide.

But I’m thinking,… if they don’t use it I would like to roll with my point game myself and get anyone who is interested in playing signed up quick like as the season is fast approaching.

I would hope my Coor’s Field buddies will want to play for fun??

I even have a name for this new Sport. Let’s call it Hagg’n because you’re part autograph hound and part baseball snagger. I know, it’s F’kn genious. Sometimes I even amaze myself.

Hag’n is a sport that involves snagging baseballs and obtaining autographs/memorbilia for points. Here is the proposed breakdown of points:

Total points per game divided by number of games attended calculated each game. Each player would automatically receive one point for each game attended. This is in case one person only goes to one game all season and hits the motherload.

He/she could totally screw up the curve with a stellar one game performance.

1. Straight up catching a live game home run baseball = 10 points

2. Acquiring that same live game home run ball on the bounce or after it’s landed = 9 points

3. Catching a live game foul ball straight-up = 8 points

4. Acquiring that same live game foul ball on the bounce or after it’s landed = 7 points

6. Acquiring that same batting practice home run ball on the bounce or after it’s landed = 3 points

7. If a player tosses the ball to you and you straight-up catch it = 2 points

8. If a player tosses the ball to you and you drop it (dumbazz) but still manage to get it, or it’s thrown into the crowd and you come up with it = 1 point

9. Autographs obtained at the game = 1 point

I added autographs to kind of even out things. Little kids probably will never snag a home run ball but it’s quite possible for them to obtain a few autographs each game and get a ball or two tossed to them. It’s about how hard you want to work. Anyone any age can participate.

In order for an autograph to count it has to be obtained inside the stadium and only as early as batting practice starts and up to 30 minutes after the game. A picture is required of all autographs obtained during the game. As proof the scoreboard should be in the background of your picture as your proof of actually being there.

Say you snag three baseballs at batting practice, take a picture with the scoreboard in the background as your proof. Make it simple and quick. It’s really not that hard.

Maybe we could count spring training and minor league game points acquired as exactly half of what a major league game would be?

…and the last three.

10. Acquiring a game used bat (at the game) with verifiable proof = 10 points.

11. Acquiring any other piece of memoribilia (ex. batting glove, lineup card, a hat, jersey) whatever and being able to prove it = 5 points

12. Acquiring a picture of you with a player at the game = 2 points

Total points per game divided by # of games attended.

Starting your own snagging blog to keep track or post a comment of your accomplishments per game is really the best idea. Get with the times man/woman!!

Hey D,
That is so crazy cool. I would love to participate but getting a picture while getting an autograph has always been a challenge for me (I just get too darn excited to operate my camera correctly). Definitely cool idea though.

JULIA-Thanks, you could win it if you went to only a couple and did really really good.
R-LUV-You go to batting practice right? You get autographs, you can play. Maybe it’s time to up your game girl :)
GoMets-I think they should count as I mentioned in the blog, but as half of what a Major League game would be…D

K of C- You have got to be devoted to get to batting practice early and patiently wait in line for autographs. I like taking the good pictures too, it can be difficult at times to do all three things…D

If I had any ability to catch a ball and I was going to more than, like, four games this season, I might participate! But I can live vicariously through your competition! I have really bad hand-eye coordination hahaha, so I’ve never actually caught a ball in my life. Have fun with this, like I’m sure you will!
Jenhttp://ajroxmywhitesox.mlblogs.com
PS: I’m leaving for Phoenix tomorrow morning for two spring training games. Any words of wisdom you have for autographs and whatnot will be greatly appreciated since you have a knack for getting them! Thanks, D!

A sport inside of a sport? Genius! A couple ?s though: When we’re getting a pic of the player that’s autographing, as proof, does that have to be in front of the scoreboard? and the same for when we get a picture with the player. Maybe for that it would be enough proof on the date at the bottom of the picture.
Alexhttp://bloggingwithanaltitude.mlblogs.com/

ALEX-Here’s how I figure it. You don’t have to actually have a picture of the player autographing your stuff. I know how hard that can when they’re signing your stuff.
A rule I’d like to add is only one autograph per player per game. My suggestion was to take a picture of your autograhed items before you leave the stadium and have the scoreboard in the background as your proof. Say you snagged 3 baseballs, you should take a picture of them with the scoreboard in the background also before you leave the stadium. To me it doesn’t matter if the picture has a timestamp they can be altered. If someone cheats, we’ll figure it out eventually….D

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